29 gravestones vandalized at historic Hill Cemetery in Bourbon

A total of 29 headstones at historic Hill Cemetery along Route 66 in Bourbon, Missouri, recently were destroyed by vandals.

It’s believed the destruction, discovered Wednesday, occurred within the last two weeks after the cemetery last was mowed, according to a report by KSDK-TV in St. Louis. It’s also believed more than one person was behind it.

The destroyed gravestones were down a hill in the cemetery and out of the sight lines of passing cars.

Here’s a Facebook post from Hill Cemetery:

The cemetery wrote:

It’s so sad to see this damage and so difficult to understand why people get satisfaction out of this destruction.
Someone will speak up and talk if you hear anything please let the police know or get in touch with us we will keep you’re name private. Hill Cemetery is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest.

Cemetery officials plan to install surveillance cameras on the grounds.

Anyone with information or who recently visited the cemetery is encouraged to call the Bourbon Police Department at (573) 732-4838.

According to the FindAGrave.com database, the earliest burials at the cemetery were in 1865. It’s still being used.

(Image of one of the damaged gravestones at Hill Cemetery in Bourbon, Missouri, via Facebook)

3 thoughts on “29 gravestones vandalized at historic Hill Cemetery in Bourbon

  1. In this current phase of global anarchy following the killing of a vicious convicted criminal, many an “offended” person is taking it into his or her head to destroy what is against his or her personal agenda. Is that the case here? Missouri’s role in the US Civil War might have some bearing on the destruction of the gravestones. I also read (Wikipedia) “The Missouri Compromise was United States federal legislation that admitted Maine to the United States as a free state, simultaneously with Missouri as a slave state—thus maintaining the balance of power between North and South in the United States Senate. As part of the compromise, the legislation prohibited slavery north of the 36°30′ parallel, excluding Missouri”. The ripples are still spreading.

  2. It’s so sad to see this damage and so difficult to understand why people get satisfaction out of this destruction. <<
    Nothing more needs to said.

    Fred from The Netherlands

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.